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Monday, 21 March 2011

I finally seem to be on the downhill slope of this part of the dreaded NSS. All I have to do now is finish the last bit of paperwork, and then I can hand my marked and assessed sample work over to the internal verifier to do their bit. Assuming that they do not find anything drastically wrong with it, I will then be able to concentrate on acting as internal verifier for the work marked and assessed by another of my colleagues.

I must admit that I have found the NSS process a lot harder than in previous years. I am not sure why. It might be something to do with the fact that the group that I have taught – and whose work I have marked and assessed this year – has some 'challenging' students ... but I have had far more 'challenging' students in the past and not felt like this. Maybe it is the culmination of the build-up to the Ofsted inspection and all the extra work that it generated has just left me feeling very dispirited and tired. It could also be the domestic trials and tribulations my wife and I have had to face over the past few months dealing with our respective fathers. Or most likely, it is a combination of all of these factors and the fact that I am no longer as young as I think I am.

I look forward to the day when I no longer have to get up and go to work. With a bit of luck, that day should not be too soon a coming!

I suspect that you are right, and that full-time retirement (rather than my current part-time retirement that isn't) will see me writing a bit more. More importantly, it might give me more time to wargame, paint, and do some modelling!

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The First Rule of Wargaming and the Spirit of the Wargame

The First Rule:

‘Nothing can be done contrary to what could or would be done in actual war.'

- From 'The Rules of the Naval War Game' by Fred T Jane

The Spirit of the Wargame:

‘Wargames are played, for the most part, without the supervision of an umpire. The game relies on the integrity of the individual players to show consideration for other players and to abide by the rules. All players should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of how competitive they may be. This is the spirit of the wargame.’

- Adapted from 'The Spirit of the Game' in 'The Rules of Golf' as published by the R&A Ltd.

About Me

I have been wargaming for as long as I can remember. One of the first toys that I was bought was a wooden fort that was garrisoned by assorted lead soldiers ... and I have never looked back!
The first wargames book I bought was CHARGE! (although I had taken out [and repeatedly read] Donald Featherstone's WAR GAMES book beforehand [and many thanks to John Curry for republishing it!]).
My first 20mm figures were the good old Airfix Guards Infantry and Band (in shocking pink!), soon followed by others as they were released, and by 1968, when I bought my first metal Hinton Hunt 20mm figures, I had a large collection of World War II figures, tanks, guns, and aircraft.
I was a founder member of WARGAME DEVELOPMENTS and have been the treasurer and membership secretary ever since. I have also organised – along with Tim Gow - the annual conference (COW – Conference of Wargamers) for the past ten years.
My main interests are wargaming any wars from 1850 onwards, although I have a special interest in Colonial, the Spanish Civil War, and World War II wargaming.
I also have a special interest in wargames that use square or hex grids for movement and weapon ranges.